Artificial intelligence and data models trained based on it are currently revolutionizing and reshaping the rules of football. The semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) system now resolves conflicts and ambiguities related to offside rule violations in international leagues almost instantly.
How Is Semi-Automated Offside Changing the Football Industry?
The semi-automated offside technology assists video match referees and on-field referees in making decisions more quickly by analysing players’ actions in offside positions. This technology is already being applied in football stadiums. UEFA used such a tool during the 2022-2023 Champions League season, and FIFA implemented it at the World Cup in Qatar.
It has been confirmed that after more than 12 months of testing, this AI-based tool will also be applied in the Premier League during the 2024-2025 season. However, Premier League officials have clarified that it won’t be integrated at the start of the season due to ongoing testing aimed at ensuring its quality and reliability.
The main reasons for new offside system integration in football are driven by a few key aspects. Firstly, the time required to make a decision. When in doubt, player actions are often replayed to analyse a player’s decision as accurately as possible, which, as mentioned, is time-consuming. Meanwhile, the VAR decision must be made within five minutes, increasing pressure and urgency to make decisions, even in complex situations.
Secondly, controversial referee decisions can lead to waves of frustration over disallowed goals, resulting in distrust among various groups, including fans, players, and coaches. For example, Serie A in Europe was prompted to integrate SAOT after a wrongly disallowed goal triggered a controversy.
The third aspect is technical quality assurance. There is debate that video recorders do not always capture players’ positions accurately, which sometimes leads to incorrect decisions.
How Does Semi-Automated Offside Make a Decision?
SAOT automates the decision-making process and can do so in real-time. The Premier League predicts that final decisions will be made 31 seconds faster. With minimal human involvement, the potential for subjectivity in decision-making is significantly reduced, which is expected to increase confidence in the decisions.
In the Premier League, cameras will be mounted under the stadium roofs, ensuring optimal and detailed monitoring of all 22 players, including their body positions. AI will process players’ actions in real-time, and when an offside is detected, a VAR offside alert will be triggered.
After verifying the offside information and player activity, the AI passes this information to the referee, who can either confirm or adjust the decision. The referee will also have the option to review the recorded player actions to ensure the AI correctly identified the point of impact.
Additionally, new offside system integrates an optical tracking system that monitors players and the ball throughout the match, capable of detecting any changes in ball direction. To keep viewers informed, there are plans to create a 3D animation, like goal-line technology, which will be visible in stadiums and on TV. This animation will be generated after referees confirm the AI signal and will display the players’ limb positions.
Final Word
The integration of semi-automated offside detection technology in football matches transforms the decision-making process, ensuring greater accuracy, speed, and transparency. Importantly, it reduces the risk of conflicts of interest and referee subjectivity. Real-time analysis of players’ actions provides comprehensive insights into players’ decisions, identifies potential errors, and enhances the match-viewing experience.
Sources: ESPN, FIFA, Premier League
